By the way, I'm Hilary Anne Gale Delarante. I study at the School of Saint Thomas. I studied there since highschool and for the past two years, nothing special happened in my life, just typical. Last year naman medyo nag-evolve..marami akong nakilalang friends sa batch ko pati na rin sa ibang batch. At ngayon last year ko na 'toh! Ayoko pa nga maging senior eh kasi pagkatapos nito, gagrad na 'ko then iiwan ko na yung school at magkakahiwa-hiwalay na kami.. :'( Oh well, that's life.

Philosophy #1: You have to learn how to move forward like everybody does. You can't stay stranded in the past forever.

That's part of my “Life Guide” na napag-isipan kong gawin ngayong senior na ko, mga rules to live by, my point of views, perhaps my outlook in life which I write in a notebook. Wala lang, trip trip lang naman. Kaya ayun, I really need to move on from the pain that I felt before and accept the reality that I can't stay as a highschool student forever. I should condition myself that soon, I will be progressing to college.

"ahh..just call me Mike. Nice to meet you seatmate." he said with a smile.

So siya pala ang naging seatmate ko sa right side, may pagitan nga lang na space kasi may aisle pa eh. Michael Cedric Guerrera..I heard about him when we were in third year highschool, he's shrewd and talented according to the other students. Sa botohan ng class officers, he won as our class president.

I met new friends, new teachers, new subjects, new classroom, new environment! After 1 month..naka-adjust na din ako sa pagiging senior girl..kahit pano?

One day..

"ssh..there's an announcement.." teacher Lex said in front of the class.

pero di muna siya nagstart kasi maingay kami.

"oisSst! quiet muna..may i-aannounce daw" Mike instructed.

"have you heard when will you be going to have your retreat?"

"hindi pa po.." the whole class answered.

"it will be on friday next week. Anyway, there'll be a letter that will be given to you about the details naman. Okay, moving along, let's start our lesson.."

on the circular given:

"Retreat is an activity, which facilitates the spiritual development of the students. It is a means for the students to develop their relationship with the Almighty God and foster relationships with their classmates and teachers. This is also a way for the students to realize their purpose in life and find ways for them to be worthwhile, critical and active members of the community.”

According also sa circular, mag-oovernight stay kami in a retreat house somewhere in Antipolo.

After a few minutes, we went back to the session hall at nagtuloy lang yung mga activities. Puro activities katulad ng pagsayaw, pagkanta, meron ding discussions about sa mga bagay-bagay wherein may matututunan kami about our lives. Not too long gabi na din. There a came a point na nag-lights off kami pagkatapos eh nagpatugtog sila ng sad music. Habang tumutugtog yun, nagsalita si brother tungkol sa parents. Pano daw kung namatay na sila? Nakapag-thank you na daw ba kami? If ever we neglected them, will be ever a chance for us to regret and say sorry? That was made for us to realize crucial things. Siyempre drama galore and yeah, I cried.

Philosophy #2: Always acknowledge your emotions! They serve a purpose and should never be ignored.

Because of the talk that the brother gave us, marami akong natutunan.

After that, it's already time for us to have some sleep. My roommates were Joy, Kryzl, and Erlyn so we all lay down on our beds.

"pareho tayo! puro crush lang din ako eh. anyway, i have a crush on a guy in the other section kaso i don't know him eh but he's cute.." ;D Joy shared. "hey Hilary, how about you?"

"ako? i haven't undergone any relationship yet.. i'm still single." I paused for a while. "but I already fell in love before.." I murmured.

"then what happened?" Kryzl inquired.

"uhmm.. :-\ by the way, i enjoy being single naman eh!" I tried to say anything just not to answer the question further. I don't want to talk about that.

They just continued chatting about crushes, relationships, and stuffs. I listened to them but I didn't talk too much. I just.. I just don't want to share what happened last year. :-\ After a while, I just decided..

I just nodded while listening to what Joy was sharing about Jake. As I went home, nagpahinga muna ako, may pasok kinabukasan eh. Then nagreflect ako tungkol sa mga bago kong realizations sa retreat. Nagkaroon pala ako ng bagong intimate friends. I mingled with different people which led me to be who i want to be.

Philosophy #3: Know how to treasure precious people. At least one person cares for you, life isn't a waste.

I was third year highschool way back then. One morning when I've been from my locker, I was walking along the corridors carrying books and stuff when Anthony Nivenez, a senior student, accidentally bumped me so he offered to help me carry those things to my room. He was my schoolmate. After our collision, we became friends.

Every time there's a chance that we would be together, he always makes me feel special. He has this personality which has depth, very interesting. So that's why he captivated me. I assumed he also liked me since he's so nice to me but one day, I realized that I shouldn't had assumed.

Philosophy #5: Don't expect that what you give will always be what you would take in return.

As I snapped back to reality..

Hindi porket mahal ko siya, kaya rin niya akong mahalin. It's not that way. After he graduated, we lost touch and I didn't tell him my feelings for him. That reminiscence always seems to be a deterioration to me. Philosophy #2 says I should never ignore my emotions. What does a girl like me got to do? I can't help it! My tears fell before I already knew it. I just let it. When I realized that I was just wasting my time crying, I tried to stop. All of a sudden, I received a message so I read it. It's from an unknown number which read:

Because of exasperation, I didn't get what he last said or asked. There was silence.

Then he broke in. "hmm..pahinga ka ah? Alam mo kasi, we should also try to relax and lighten up. Stop trying so hard to do something because forcing things to happen when they are not supposed to will just cause frustation. Kung ano man yung nire-research mo..baka hindi ngayon yung time para matapos mo talaga yun..huwag mong pilitin masyado for now..baka mapabayaan mo sarili mo eh. Just an advice.."

But Mike's right. I should not force myself to know who my so-called angel is. In the first place, that person doesn't want me to know his identity after all. Perhaps someday, when the time is right, I would be able to know who he really is so better not coerce this time. Between ask or don't ask, i would go for the don't ask option for now.

"Mike, tnx..I think you're right.." I uttered.

He just beamed at me. Then he looked away since one of my classmates called his attention and talked to him.

***

I found myself at home. Looking outside my window at nothing at all when my cellphone abruptly beeped. "ugh! Nice! My moment of senti was just ruined! how perfect could it be?!" I sarcastically wailed. "sino naman kaya 'toh?"

Sender:aNgeL q!+63920*******

hey..ü

ahh..yung dahilan lang pala kung bakit ako napagod kanina.

: yes?

: wala lang..just want to check if ur ok..

ahh..i'm fine..thank u..kw?

: auz lang aq..gwa mo?

"nagse-senti sana kung hindi ka lang nagtext!" I wanted to say. There are times that I enjoy being alone. When I'm all by myself, I feel so liberated. Free from outer influences. But of course, I deviated my reply.

Silence suddenly struck the classroom. Teacher Nikki, our English teacher crossed the threshold and went in front of the class to start her lesson. She kept on discussing and inserted something about an activity. It goes like this..she will be going to group us randomly and assign us on a specified date. On that particular day, we will be going to perform a variety show which will serve as our recitation grade. Someone will be assigned in broadcasting, poem or song interpretation, and book and movie review according to the decision of each members. Not too later, she asked us to count off from one to five for us to be grouped. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. Tapos na ang time for English nang matapos ang pag-group sa'min pero sinabi niya na next week na raw ang start ng pagperform so we better have a meeting with our groupmates to get ready.

My groupmates are Mike (yeah, it's impossible for me to have him as a groupmate since we're seatmates and we had a count-off system but he switched places with someone that time so now it's possible. Pasaway talaga yun, naki-pag-exchange pa ng upuan..buti hindi napansin at napagalitan ng teacher.), Erlyn, and two other guy classmates.

"yung book and movie review kayong dalawa ah?" he pointed to my two guy classmates. The two agreed.

"ako nalang sa broadcasting" Erlyn requested.

"actually, yun naman talaga plano ko eh" he smiled.

Yun naman talaga plano niya? Tapos yung natitirang option nalang, poem or song interpretation, which means.. Poem or song. Choose between the two. I can already sense what he's planning for me..err..rather for the both of us. Since he loves music..

"hala! ayoko! wag mo kong pakantahin!" I sharply refused.

"bakit? Sabi nila musically inclined ka daw..diba? Ikaw kakanta, ako tutugtog." he reassured me. But I don't have the gutts to sing in front of my family which has a population of only three people in our house..eh ano pa kaya yung --42 minus the five of us but add our teacher--people?!

Before, Erlyn tried to sing when we were together with Kryzl at the school quadrangle when most of the students already went home. Sad to say, she always sings out of tune. She's right. And yes, I don't have awareness and concentration when it comes to news and current affairs. She's right again. I like singing pretty much. She's right again and again. Our two group members are not fond of doing such things like that so they might end up not doing it seriously which will affect our grade. She's right again and again and again! ugh! >

I went home with this vexed feeling which kept on upsetting me. Me? As in only me? will sing in front of the class? By next week? Why me? What have I done wrong to accept such a punishment? For me performing in front of people is a chastisement! I don't have the gutts! It's like I'm just humiliating myself in front of people. I have the feeling it wont turn out as something which is definitely, absolutely, purely, utterly, totally, and surely fine! Naman eh!

After dinner and doing homeworks, I plunged into my room. I think I made a mistake. Why did I gave up arguing with them? I should have demanded my justice! It's my human right to choose what I want and don't want to do. Hey, oo nga. Ba't hindi ko yun na-i-banat sa kanila kanina?!

: i think it's not d right thing nor the wrong thing to do..u just have to try..ü think about this: if God gives u something u can do, why in God's name wouldn't u do it?ü Basta, believe in urself lang..

I would make that as a part of my Life Guide. Philosophy #8 , that is.

: tnx..ü

What a pep talk! I must admit, it's rather effective. His encouragements worked, kung sino man siya.

“mamayang dismissal nalang..’pag wala ng tao!” I furiously said. I pulled my hand from his to loosen from his grip and sat at a bookshelf by the window.

At dismissal time, we waited until Mike, me, and Erlyn were the only people in the room. I asked Erlyn to stay with us. I don’t want to be alone with Mike! He’s pissing me off! >

“ano ba song piece niyo?” Erlyn asked Mike.

I looked at Mike as he showed a paper. “eto, saving grace..maganda yung tono ni--”

“bakit yan?! ang taas kaya niyan!” I interrupted him

“kaya mo ‘toh noh!” he claimed.

“hindi kaya!” I disagreed. Mahihirapan ako sa pagkanta nun.

“oo kaya!” he opposed. Before I could speak, he started playing the keyboard. His fingers were smoothly moving on top of the tabs creating a pleasing music. Ang galing niya.

“oh, kumanta ka na” Erlyn pushed me closer to Mike while he was keyboarding. Mike looked at me which was a hint. It’s a signal for me to enter after the interlude. I looked at the lyrics then at him. I have this doubtful expression on my face but he nodded his head and beamed at me.

“night and day..i seek your face..” I started singing. I can hear my voice trembling which was probably the reason why he stopped.

I answered him with silence. He started playing the instrument again. I progressed until the third line but my voice was still no good and for the second time, he stopped. I repeated it over and over again and he stopped over and over again too. We didn’t even finish the first stanza.

I went to where my bag was placed. As I was fixing some of my things, he kept the keyboard somewhere in the classroom but I didn’t wait for him. Instead, I quickly made my way down through the stairs. Outside the school, there was already a jeep. I began walking towards it when Mike called me from behind. I made a halt, but didn’t look.

While waiting for our next class, I decided to wallow privately and make my own nook near the bookshelves by the window then slouched with my left hand supporting my chin. I’m better off looking at the school garden’s view rather than watching how silly some of my classmates were doing baloney stuffs. :

“they’re worth my stare than you are and mind you, kahit maging puno ka pa, tititigan ko pa rin yung mga yan maliban lang sa puno na sinasabi mo..” : I proudly said with determination. He sat on the bookshelf and I tried to look at him waiting for his reaction. He chuckled but wasn’t looking at me and ran his hand through his hair. By the time when he noticed I was looking, our eyes met.

“hmm?” he muttered while smiling. I stared at him. Hanggang dun nalang ba yun? Wala na bang second move para mainis pa ako lalo? I swiftly shifted my head from his face. Why should I even bother about him? ???

There was moment of silence and we remained on our positions. He sat there while I was on his side staring in the open air. I wondered who would first break the restrain between us.

“mamaya, praktis ulit..” he finally initiated as he jumped from the bookshelf and walked away.

Mike ordered our classmates to go home immediately after our class so we won’t wait for the room to be empty. It would take 30 precious minutes before they would scram so he’d better command them so we could start our practice early. This time, it’s only the two of us. Erlyn needed to go home early and so were Kryzl, Joy, Carla, and Jhoyce. Wala akong nakuha maski isa sa kanila na pwedeng sumama sa’ming dalawa ni Mike.

“game..” he started playing the instrument. After I crooned some of the lyrics, he ceased. “ulit!” he demanded. I began singing again. When he wasn’t satisfied, he would terminate. This was the process that kept on repeating.

It’s already 4:30 pm but we’re still rehearsing and because of the recurrence, I already memorized the entire lyrics.

“ipapakilala kita sa konsepto ng pagod!!” I glowered at him and walked away. I went to a corner of the room, sat with my back resting on the wall, tucked my knees and rested my head on it. When I heard his footsteps coming closer to me, I lifted my head.

Before he could start, I positioned myself by the window. While looking outside, I earned all my esteem and thought of something to add on my Life Guide.

Philosophy #9: Never underestimate the power of positive thought. Just believing that you can is half the journey to actually succeeding.

I should be optimistic this time. “ready na ‘ko” I told him. Because I’m determined to go home and take a rest, I gave all my best. I sang aloud, correctly, and confidently. When I finished, I walked towards him and glared at him. “masaya ka na?!” I furiously exclaimed then walked away to grab my bag and go home.

Uh-oh! Sana nagmukha nalang akong monster sa paningin niya! I tried to run but once again, he impeded.

“oh! sa’n ka pupunta? hatid na kita” he leered and attempted to grab my bag from my shoulder to carry it but I refused and moved backwards. Hindi safe! “nahiya ka pa eh” he said lasciviously. This ain’t good no more!

“wag na po! uuwi akong mag-isa!” I shrilled. Once again, I tried to escape but my tactics didn’t work. Worse, another man stood and was about to walk towards us. Yung isa nga hindi ko natakasan, ano pa kaya ‘pag dalawa na sila?! Waah!! I backed off to maintain a distance from the other while another was about to come. Just about the time the second man started to walk towards me, I felt someone from behind..

“ano? der--ano ulit? alak ba yun? hindi ako waiter para mag-serve nun noh! ahaha! teka nga, bat ka ba nakikialam sa’min dito?!” the man replied as the other drunken chap that was in a standstill went back to his chair.

“ayy..di nagets..” he gruffed. I could feel his breath but yet, I didn’t dare to look at him. My eyes were fixed on the drunken man. I’m getting nervous, focusing on what he might do to us. “sabi ko ikaw ang walang galang! binabastos mo girlfriend ko!” he yelled.

The man was about to argue again but suddenly backed off and his face grimaced. “ay! girlfriend mo ba pare? pasensiya na, nakita kasi naming mag-isa..ihahatid ko lang sana” he alibied with a tamed voice then walked back to his mates while looking sideways at our backs. I tried to turn my head to look at my back then saw a guard walking towards our direction. He must have heard the commotion happening. So that’s why the obtuse drinker got startled.

Before I could look at the face of the bloke who saved me, he hauled me along, still with his arm draped on my shoulder. “halika na..” he said. But I know who owns this voice!

I stood in front of him and jutted my head near to his shoulder to check it too. “ay, oo nga..sus! matutuyo din naman yan!” I looked up to his face to flash a smile. But this time, our faces were closer. He didn’t say a word. He was just staring deeply into me.

I felt awkwardness. :-[ “ahmm..pasensiya na” I softly uttered then immediately looked down and started walking again.

Monday morning, the supposed deadline for my essay writing project (err!) has come not too long. Good thing nobody reiterated me again about that project especially Jelaine because there wasn’t any project at all. It’s just an imaginary excuse for her not to intervene my private life. If there’s something due for today, it isn’t any project, but a group activity. To be quite particular, the presentation.

After some dreary subjects, English is next in line. The moment Teacher Nikki entered our clasroom, the groups did what they’re supposed to do..and finally our turn. When Erlyn and our two other group mates were done, Mike positioned his keyboard in front of the class so I went next to him. Right on cue, he started playing. When the interlude started, I heard loud voices from the corner of our room

“go Hilary!” one blurted out.

“galingan mo!” another shouted. There’s yelling and clapping only to figure out it was Jake’s group. Tinotoo nga, chineer ako. :

I looked at our teacher, she was smiling at me then nodded at me.

"remember how you sang last friday before you went home? do that again." Mike said to me and I just nodded.

I thought of the Philosophy #9 once again. Then, I felt no hesitations. I began to sing.

Saving Grace by Hillsong United (Sample Track Verse 1)

Saving Grace by Hillsong United (Sample Track Chorus)

We did a good job and our teacher was pleased so she gave our group a high grade.

***

Jhoyce, Carla and me were ready to go home. We said our goodbyes to Kryzl, Erlyn, and Joy and were on our way down the stairs when somebody called out for me.

In point of fact, he really has umpteen admirers from our school but I don’t care!

“ay oo nga pala, meron! They think you’re great..and I agree! You’re great kasi nabulag mo silang lahat!” I crossed my arms but the smirk on his face didn’t fade. Tibay ah! “so this is what you call ‘crucial’, huh?” ??? I went back to the original matter.

“actually, this isn’t it. Ikaw kasi, nang-aaway ka pa!”

That’s it! Wala na talagang kwenta! I started to turn my back on him once again but he acquired something from his pocket.

“wait, look at this” he showed me his cell phone so I stood in front of him steadily.

“cell phone? no, not that..but this..” he immediately interrupted what I was about to ask and showed me the screen of his mobile.

There’s a message which read:

Sender:+63920*******

follow her sa Greensville subdivision! gabi na eh.

“kilala mo ba yan?” he asked but I just took his cellphone from him and checked the number on my phonebook. Yung lumabas na name sa phone ko after searching the number is ‘angel ko’. “I just thought na kailangan mong malaman na hindi ko alam kung sa’n ka pupuntahan if I didn’t receive that message. Nagtaka nga ako eh, bigla lang nagtext nung friday night after you left the room..

“well, kung sino man siya, that person seems to be worrying about you kaya nireplayan ko siya about the incident. Nakapag thank you ka na sa’kin nung Friday night but I’m informing you about this because I think you also owe that person a thank you, am I right?” he continued.

“wala yun..” I was about to go home pero naudlot nanaman because he grabbed my phone from my hand (tama ba naman yun?!) and pressed some buttons and started scrolling down the screen. I just remained standing in front of him. “wala pa pala dito number ko?” he pressed again the keypads.

Bahala na nga, ibibigay ko na lang. I grabbed his phone, pressed my number and saved it. I gave it back to him afterwards then said goodbye. Anyway, pinuntahan ko na sina Jhoyce and Carla na naghihintay sa gate.

After talking to Jake, I finally was able to go home. I’m still bewildered by the fact that Mike and the one who’s texting me considering himself as my angel are not one person. Ang labo talaga! Naaala ko pa na halos pareho sila ng advice na sinabi sa’kin nung nagpapraktis pa ‘kong kumanta:

“if God gives you something you can do, why in God’s name wouldn’t you do it? Basta, believe in yourself lang..”

Just after a few minutes, our classes are going to start so I went to my locker to get my notebooks. What I’m annoyed about is, Mike’s at the corridors too, walking beside me. Aba! Hindi siya late? Himala! :

“hi! good morning” he greeted me but instead of greeting him back, I ignored him and walked as if I heard nothing. “ang suplada mo naman, masungit pa”

I glared at him for a while then looked straight ahead again. When I arrived on my destination, he also went to his locker not too far from mine. As I opened mine, something fell on the floor.

“what’s that? love letter?” he asked while looking at me.

I knelt down to pick the paper which fell. As I stood up, I noticed it was enclosed in an envelope, supposed to be a letter for me. From whom? It’s not written on the envelope so I don’t know.

I started to walk so Jake followed beside me but Mike was just at our back. I turned my head to look at him. His one hand is at his pocket and I noticed his gaze was firmly fixed at Jake’s back. There’s no reaction on his face. He’s just impassively staring at him.

Not too long, we arrived at our house so we stopped walking. Jake stood beside me while Mike distanced himself but just a few meters away from us. I can still notice Mike staring at him but Jake wasn’t aware about it. Yet, Mike has no reaction at all. Just staring.

Later on, Carla and Jhoyce went out of our room for a while to go to their lockers. I began sweeping the floor of our classroom (cleaner for the day purpose) after they left. Most of our classmates already went home so it’s much easy to clean now. Walang istorbo! Kaso lang, kawawa naman ako! Bakit kasi ako lang ang naglilinis ngayon?! Tinakasan ako ng mga ka-group ko na cleaners ah! >

As I stood at the classroom’s door, I heard the guy murmured something like, “andyan siya..” though I’m not sure If I heard it right and I don’t have any frigging idea what they’re talking about.

There’s two people, Mike and ???--I don’t know his name but I do know him by his face and as far as I can remember, he’s Mike’s bandmate.

I knocked at the door. “excuse me lang ah?” then I entered.

I went to where my chair is and thankfully, my notebook’s there. I was about to leave when, “narinig mo ba pinag-uusapan namin?” Mike asked but he’s not looking. He’s staring at the floor and he looks so dead serious, I wonder why. ???

“don’t worry, I don’t have any clue on what you guys were talking about. Sorry for the interruption..” I began to walk away.

“Hilary!” the guy called so I turned my head.

“bakit?” I’m puzzled. He knows my name but I don’t even know his.

“will you please come over here? kung pwede lang naman” he smiled welcomely so I went where they’re seated and stood in front of them. “by the way, Paolo nga pala” he extended his hand.

I reached over his hand and smiled at him. “nice meeting you. Your bandmates, right?”

“same here. yeah, we are” he said.

“uhm, so..well..i mean..” I gave him a perplexed look.

He chortled. “have a seat first” he pulled a chair close to me. Mike’s still looking at the floor.

“okay..” then I seated in front of them.

“Mike!” he called his attention. Mike tilted his head but he was just quiet, very not him. Paolo turned to me.“I just want to have your opinion about something.” he squinched at Mike. “pano kung may dapat akong sabihin..” he paused. “kunwari sa’yo..” then he looked at me.

“tapos?”

“would you want to hear it from me?”

“sure..”

He nodded then looked at the floor. I heard him sigh then he looked at me again. “I would tell you about it when the right time comes..” he continued.

This whole thing is an enigma. All I managed was a smile but he seems to be waiting for an answer. I looked at Mike then at Paolo. “but..” I paused. “..the right time will never come, you just..” I pondered for a while. “you just make it happen..” I succesfully extracted that from my mind and I’m planning to make it as my Philosophy #11. Paolo smiled at me which made me more curious.

“see?” Paolo turned to Mike but he just shrugged.

“what’s this all about?” I can’t help but ask.

“let’s say it’s just a situational question..just that” he answered.

“okay? ??? err..actually binalikan ko lang naman ‘tong notebook ko eh so If you don’t mind..uhm..you know..” I made a hand gesture indicating that I need to go.

“oh, I see. okay, thanks anyway” he said. Still, Mike’s silent, not even looking at me. Then I stood up. But before I could make a step, Paolo stood in front of me and impeded my way.

“huh?” He beamed at me and looked at Mike. What’s with the smile? What’s that for?

“ah..sorry” then he stepped aside still looking at the direction of Mike, still with the smile.

I waited for him but he didn’t move. What did he do? He just looked seriously at me in the eye for--I guess--two minutes. Then I glanced at Paolo and gave him a what’s-wrong-with-him (I'm referring to Mike) look. We both were silent including Mike. Paolo understood the look that I gave him so he stared at Mike for a while but when Pao turned to me again, he only managed to give a shrug. I returned a shrug too. Sige, nag-usapang balikat lang kami! :

“eh ano pang tinitingin-tingin mo dyan?!” I yelled at Mike then Paolo bursted out with laugh.

I turned to Paolo then I felt myself laughing along with him too but I ceased at once. “oh, ba’t ka natawa?” ???

At last, he stood up to get his bag and I began walking towards the door. Before he could walk towards me, he stood in front of Paolo and said, “not now.”

“then when? ga’no pa katagal?” Pao inquired then crossed his arms.

“long enough when I'm ready.”

“ano? matagal p--” Pao didn’t continue what he wanted to say but instead he just shook his head when Mike tapped him on his shoulder.

Mike went beside me. “tara..”

I wanted to ask him what they’re talking about but when I saw the reaction on his face, I’ve decided to retreat from asking. He’s too serious. Before we could leave, I turned to Paolo. “ikaw Pao? hindi ka sasabay palabas?” I asked.

“hindi na, mauna nalang kayo” he calmly answered.

“okay.” I shrugged then faced Mike. “oh, labas na!”

“after you..” Mike said and made a hand gesture towards outside the door.

While we were in the middle of the first half of the street, he made a halt for me to catch him up. When I was beside him, he began walking again then he grabbed my arm.

“ano? bakit ba?” I asked him while we were crossing but he dragged me to his left side.

“wag ka nga dyan!” he scolded me again so I decided not to argue until we finish crossing. After crossing the first half of the street, he shifted to my other side and this time dragged me to his right side.

After we were able to cross the street, I stood in front of him. “teka nga! ano nanaman yun, huh?! sinigawan mo pa ko sa gitna ng kalsada!” I moaned as I crossed my arms but instead of answering, he just passed by me so I followed and walked along with him. I waited for him to answer but he’s just looking straight ahead. “hmmpf! > bahala ka!!” I exclaimed.

Suddenly he stopped walking so I stopped as well to face him. First, he stared at me blankly then the next thing I knew, he was yelling. “hindi naman sa lahat ng oras sumusunod ang mga tao sa traffic lights! pa’no kung may g*go dyan na bigla nalang dumirediretso kahit na tumatawid tayo?! Edi nasagasaan ka kung ikaw yung nasa side ng mga sasakyan! I did that to block you from where the vehicles were! okay?!” then he looked away and began walking. “halika na!”

“bye” I told him as he left. “bakit di ka sumama sa kanila?” I inquired Jake.

“masgusto kitang kasama.” then he leaned closer to me. I gave him a smile then looked down on my notebook and went back to writing. I noticed he was staring at me so I stopped writing for a while. “bakit?”

“nice try.” he said then I sat down. “can someone help Hilary and tell me the law of supply?” our teacher inquired again. Mike raised his hand. “sige, Mike?”

He stood up and answered, “when the price increases, the supply increases and when the price decreases, the supply decreases also. In other words, directly proportional po ang batas ng suplay” after which, he sat down.

“very good” our teacher commented then he drew graphs on the board. He made that as our homework.

I lifted my head but he sat in front of me so his face and mine were in the same levels. He intently looked at me in the eyes. Ayan nanaman siya sa eye to eye contact niya eh! Nakakailang naman! :-\

“help for picking up my notebook? no thanks” I said, tossing away my head to avoid his eyes. I picked up the notebook and stood up.

He also stood up. “what I mean is, help for you to understand the lesson..” he paused. “..not help for you to pick it up.” he stated.

“yeah, I know.” I retorted with a dry tone. “by the way, ba’t ang aga mo?!” then I sat down on my chair.

He turned his back and placed his bag on his chair, at my right side. “is there anything wrong for being too early?” he inquired as he took his seat and faced me.

“did I say there’s something wrong? I’m just asking why you’re early!” I asserted. Instead of answering me back, he pulled my notebook from my desk and scanned it. Then in a serious tone, he spoke, “let’s just..” he looked at my eyes.

I tried to look at his too and I saw something. Something..

..bizarre. :-\

I just don’t know. There’s an expression in his eyes, it’s peculiar. Then I avoided his gaze.

“..let's just stop arguing. I’ll help you figure out this stupid graphs.” he said.

I attempted to look at him again. He was just staring at me. Later on, he gave me a smile and reached for my ballpen. He pulled his chair closer to me and started explicating things about our lesson. He taught me those stuff.

“gano’n lang yun. kailangan mo lang talagang i-analyze ng mabuti through the help of the law of demand and suppply” he clarified.

“kaya pala hindi ko makuha nung una eh, hindi ko kasi bine-base sa law nun. gets ko na! thank you.” I told him and tried to look at his eyes once more. I observed that his eyes are beautiful, something I’ve not been aware of before. And the expression...

Are we Mike getting along well? Yes, no, I don’t know! Just don’t get me wrong. So he taught me those uhm..yeah, as what he’ve said..stupid graphs. : But after that good deed, what’s next? May next nga ba? ??? Baka nga wala na eh! Baka bumalik nanaman yun sa pang-aasar!

“okay” he beamed then walked towards our table where Carla and the rest seems to be happy chatting with each other. When Erlyn and me arrived, I gave back Joy’s money. She looked puzzled. “nilibre tayo ni Jake eh..” I explained.